The mature and fertile mind takes in new information and responds accordingly. At least that's my thinking in backtracking from yesterday's blog and adding Dan Williams to the list of safety Earl Thomas and receiver Dez Bryant of acceptable choices with the No. 12 picks. That comes in light of info from reader/researcher extraordinaire Joe W. and a NFC scout.

What I'm not changing is the philsophical contention that the NFL has transformed from a run-the-ball/defend-the-run first league into a pass-the-ball/defend-the-pass first league. But the Dolphins stilll have so many needs they're still in a bricklaying mode with this roster.

Joe W wrote: "1.) There were 53 total pass plays allowed of 20+ yards. We averaged giving up over 3 per game. The only teams we didn’t give up 3 20+ pass plays or more to were Tampa Bay and Jacksonville. Of course, they're two of the weakest offenses in the NFL.

2.) 48% of our TOTAL passing yards allowed last year were due to the “big play”.

3.) V. Davis was by far the player who gave up the most big plays. He gave up 17 passing plays of 20+ yards for 647 yards. S. Smith was second with 11 plays for 378 yards.

4.) Over half of the plays had no one in secondary coverage. It was simply the cornerback or another player being beaten 1 on 1.

5.) G. Wilson was involved in 21% of the plays and secondarily responsible for 24% of the yardage.

6.) Screen plays accounted for 7 of the plays and 214 yards.

Given this data, I’m not sure you can entirely conclude that a better FS is going to improve the situation with the number of big plays allowed. If a better FS could cut the number of plays G. Wilson was involved in by half that’s still only 10% of the big plays allowed.

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the career survivability of a great nose tackle is probably double a great safety. You've got to factor that in

2. Well, it looks like the Dan Williams Train is gaining steam for the Dolphins draft pick. Everyone knows they need a nose tackle. And everyone knows Bill Parcells' love of big men. And everyone knows the importance of a nose tackle in the 3-4 defense. But doesn't everyone also know they didn't lose last year because of the nose tackle?

They lost when the ball was in the air. They didn't have a big-play receiver to catch the ball. They didn't have a ball-hawking safety to intercept the ball (or just knock it down). All championship teams need those two players right now - and can be average at nose tackle. Plus, this is a draft where a couple of good nose tackles are expected to be there in the second round.

Cohort Todd McShay says it's Williams because with Jason Ferguson 35, hurt last year and suspended for eight games, "Miami would be wise to get help at nose tackle through the draft, and Williams is the premier two-gap player on the board."

4.) Over half of the plays had no one in secondary coverage. It was simply the cornerback or another player being beaten 1 on 1.

That's interesting. If so, we better hope our 2nd year duo steps it up from last season as they were the major contributing cause of the big play, not Wilson as many of us have surmised. As per the article, even if we get a FS who stops everything he's responsible for in secondary coverage (cloud coverage), we're not looking at a year which is much better than last as far as giving up the big play.

That said, I have faith that both will continue to grow. My prediction is that Vontae Davis is going to explode next season and become the guy we all hope he will be.

_________________A good RB is nice, a good QB even better, but it's best to be able to stop someone first.

4.) Over half of the plays had no one in secondary coverage. It was simply the cornerback or another player being beaten 1 on 1.

That's interesting. If so, we better hope our 2nd year duo steps it up from last season as they were the major contributing cause of the big play, not Wilson as many of us have surmised. .

That's exactly it...he wasn't there half of the time when he should have been.

Did you not read he original?

He wasn't supposed to be there on most of the plays that ended up being big plays down the field. The majority of those were against the 2 CBs in single coverage where they got burned or otherwise didn't make the play.

Original Article wrote:

Given this data, I’m not sure you can entirely conclude that a better FS is going to improve the situation with the number of big plays allowed. If a better FS could cut the number of plays G. Wilson was involved in by half that’s still only 10% of the big plays allowed.

_________________A good RB is nice, a good QB even better, but it's best to be able to stop someone first.

The majority of those were against the 2 CBs in single coverage where they got burned or otherwise didn't make the play.

This begs the question: Who is the genius that put those rookie corners in one on one coverage so often?

True. Pasqualoni should have had cloud coverage more often rather than leaving those rooks on an island. But even though one can use the excuse that they are young, they are still ultimately responsible for allowing the big play so often. That said, I see no reason to think that they won't improve this year, and only keep getting better for a few years before they start the long decline.

_________________A good RB is nice, a good QB even better, but it's best to be able to stop someone first.